The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
After having to cancel last year’s Annual Benefit and Mosesian Awards, board and staff members at the Mosesian Center for the Arts have been working diligently to plan this year’s event. “The benefit will be held virtually,” reports Executive Director Darren Farrington, “but that won’t diminish the spectacle and enjoyment.”
The event theme is REIMAGINE, in recognition of reimagining its programming virtually over the past year, reimaging its staff and how and where they work, and reimagining the design of their space itself. Housed in an 1894 industrial workshop of the former United States Army Arsenal, the fifteen-year-old arts center will undergo a major renovation to its lobby and classroom spaces this year. “Because of all of the changes, we’re using this benefit to tell a story,” Farrington says. “It’s the story of this building and of the Mosesian Center for the Arts, through video segments about the history of the space and about all of the arts programs that we host here now.”
Event highlights will include a short documentary film titled From Armaments to Arts about the history of the building; a conversation with architects on redesigning historic spaces, moderated by GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen; visits from companies that regularly perform at MCA, including Watertown Children’s Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Boston Midsummer Opera, Flat Earth Theatre, and Earfull; new music from Boston-based power pop band JATK; a virtual exhibition of reimagined artworks; and the reveal of the concept designs for the lobby renovations. The organization’s Charles Mosesian Awards will be given to Sasaki and Jonathan Bockian. Architects at Sasaki have designed the current building renovations, and Bockian is a retired attorney and former volunteer for the arts center.
Farrington himself has been part of a reimagined staff at MCA in the past year. Joining the organization just last August, the new Executive Director took leadership of a reduced staff, in a closed building, while working to bring programming online and keep its audiences and community engaged. “It’s been over a year of upending change for all arts organizations and so many others,” Farrington said in an announcement to the center’s membership, “and MCA is embracing the opportunity for more change. We’ve been reimagining the look and functionality of our building itself, and we’re excited to finally share the designs publicly at our annual benefit.”
Tickets to view the 2021 Annual Benefit will be free for accessibility to more of the community. To register, visit the organization’s website at www.mosesianarts.org/reimagine. The Mosesian Center for the Arts continues to welcome donations and sponsorships as well.
For more information on current programming, spring and summer classes and productions, and the benefit event, visit www.mosesianarts.org.
About Mosesian Center for the Arts
The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a vibrant multi-disciplinary arts organization in Watertown, Massachusetts, six miles from downtown Boston. The 30,000 square foot center, located within a former United States Army arsenal, houses a 340-seat main stage theater, a 100-seat black box theater, exhibition galleries, classrooms, a rehearsal hall, and resident artist studios. Programming includes visual and performing arts classes and workshops for all ages, literary and art discussions, visual arts exhibitions, and professional theatrical and musical performances. Regionally recognized and acclaimed, Watertown Children’s Theatre serves as MCA’s flagship performing arts education program, providing exceptional theater arts classes and performances for youth and families. New Repertory Theatre is the award-winning professional theater company in residence, and the venue is rented to other outstanding performing arts companies in the Greater Boston region.